Coin selector



June 16, 1942. c. GAVBRIELSEN COIN SELECTOR I Filed July 25, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEEgTOB BY M J A 6RNEY5 7W June 16, 1942. c. GABRIELSEN COIN SELECTOR v Filed July 25, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 16, 1942 ST? S COIN SELECTOR Application July 25, 1939, Serial No. 286,302

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in coin selectors or devices for detecting and rejecting spurious coins or checks.

It is an object of the invention, in a machine of the class indicated, to provide improved stripping mechanisms for clearing the machine of checks or coins retained therein. It is a further object of the invention to provide improved means for rejecting and disposing of washers and the like. Still another object of the invention is to provide improved means for separating the coins and checks from one another according to characteristics to be measured and for directing them into appropriate channels.

With the foregoing and other objects which will appear in the following description in mind, the invention consists in the combinations, arrangements and details of parts which will now first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a coin selector embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of certain parts shown in Fig. 1 and showing the operation of part of the stripping mechanism;

Figs. 3 and 4 are edge elevations of the device of Fig. 1 still further illustratingthe operation of the stripping mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with certain parts removed to show internal features;

Fig. 6 is a view along the line 66 of Fig. 1 and showing the washer handling mechanism; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the parts in another position.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the device is generally of the known type in which coin selecting means for coins'of different denominations are positioned on the two sides of a central supporting plate I. This figure shows the dime selecting side of the device, it being understood that nickel selecting mechanism may occupy the opposite side (not shown) as in machines already known, or that the device may be employed for selecting checks, coins of other denominations or coins of other systems of coinage.

The various coin passages are formed by the plate I together with guides formed on or attached to it and by various plates 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and a magnet I all to be described later in more detail.

The upper portion of the machine comprises a scavenger for diverting or holding spurious coins and checks of certain types, best shown in Figs. 1 and 5. A coin inserted at 8 rolls down an inclined chute between plate I and plate 2 upon curved guides or ribs 9. Plate 2 is formed with an opening l9 opposite which is a bulge H in plate I which deflects any coins inserted toward plate 2 so that undersized coins all pass through the opening Ill, falling'into a hopper formed by plate 3 and being directed therebyinto an opening I2 communicating with a rejection chute (not shown) on the other side of plate I. The provision of an aperture, such as the opening l2, and a rejection chute on the other side of plate I follows a practice well known in itself and fully illustrated, for example, in Gilchrist Patent No. 1,931,579. Fastened to plate 2 is a magnet I3 for stopping iron or other strongly magnetic coins and a thickness gauge l4 adjustable by means of screw If) for stopping coins of too great thickness. The pole pieces of magnet l3 are positioned in openings It in a strip I! attached to plate I and thus hold magnetic coins against, or immediately adjacent to, this strip. Plate 2, by means of arms l8 formed thereon, is swingably mounted on a shaft 19 supported at 26 upon plate 1 and a corresponding plate (not shown) at the other side of the device is similarly journaled by means of arms [8, both of these plates being held against plate l by a spring 2| mounted on shaft [9. Such swinging movement about shaft E9 of the plate 2 is accommodated by the hopper shaped upper portion of plate 3, previously referred to. This construction, insofar asit provides for a scavenger with a pair of hinged plates at the top of the machine, is generally similar to the scavenger of Gilchrist Patent No. 1,947,767 and it will be understood that opening the plates about their pivot against spring 2| will release thick coins from thickness gauge I l and magnetic coins from magnet l3 permitting these coins to drop into the hopper provided by plate 3 and so to pass through opening I2 for return to the customer. New and improved stripping mechanism, however, for so operating these plates as well as for stripping coins from other parts of the machine is provided and forms an important feature of the present invention.

As best shown in Fig. 1, a bell crank lever 22 pivoted to plate l at 23 is provided, the lower end of this lever 24 extending below the device for operation by a plunger (not shown) as usual and the lever being biased toward the position of Fig. 1 by a spring 25 attached to plate lat Eli. Another arm 21 of bell crank 22 projects through a slot 28 (Fig. 4) in a link 29 slidably mounted on plate I by studs 39 passing through slots 3I in this link. Spring through lever 22 will normally press link 29 upward against one of the studs 39 to the position of Figs. 1 and 4. As best shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the plate 2 is provided with a projection 32 having a beveled upper surface (the corresponding plate on the opposite side of the device having a similar projection 32). Link 29 is formed near its top with a narrow neck 33 and a pair of upward bevels 34% for engaging these projections 32 and 32', movement of the link from the position of Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 3 serving to open plates 2 and strip the scavenger of any coins therein. The lower end of link 29 is bent outward and back to accommodate offset shoulder 35 on the arm 21 of bell crank 22 and the extreme lowermost end of link 29 rests against an abutment or stop 36 formed on plate I. The arm 21 is connected to link by a spring 31 and bracket 38 sothat counter-clock- Wise rotation of the bell crank 22 will first tensionspring 31, pressing link 29 against stop and further rotation will bring the offset shoulder 35 upon arm 2! against slanting surface of link 29, pushing this link outwardly, as shcvm The quick action stripping mechanism of the present invention, just described, prevents defrauding of the machine by operating the stripping mechanism slowly with a view to permitting improper coins to pass the various devices provided to retain themin the machine without being directed into' the rejection passages provided to receive them, so that they may enter the passages provided for proper coins. In the present invention the stripping mechanism already described, as well as other stripping devices described below, are operated with a definite speed suflicient to" insure rejection of spurious coins retained in the machine, and this speed of operation' is substantially independent of the speed with which any plungers, or other mechanism which may be provided for manual operation of the stripping mechanism, may be operated by a purchaser.

Another important feature of the present invention is the provision of washer rejecting means which, instead of catching and holding washers in the machine until stripping means is operated by the pulling of a plunger provided for that purpose, direct a washer into a rejection chute and thus out of the coin selector. This is accomplished with certainty and simplicity and it advantage will be apparent in that such washers as may be inserted into the coin selector do not clog it against passage therethrough of proper coins. The washer rejection is accomplished in the following manner.

Coins passing the scavenger fall into a passage 4! between plate I and plate 4 (see Figs. 1 and 5), there encountering a washer balance pivotally mounted on a shaft 92 and biased upwardly by adjustable weights 49. This balance comprises a body portion 96 on one end of which is pivoted at a member 45, having a toe 45 and a washer prong 41. The member 55 is normally biased by its own weight toward the position of Fig. 6 (solid lines in Fig. 5), being stopped in this position by projection 63 coming against a stop 49 upon member 4 A washer or coin with a hole through the center will pass down passage M until it encounters toe G5 and will thereupon rotate member 45 so that washer prong 4'! enters the hole in the washer. The weight of a washer thus held on prong d'i will rotate member 44 about its pivot from the position of Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 7. A shown in Figs. 6 and 7, shaft 42 is slanted so that member 44 swings outward as well as downward, rotating in a plane diverging from that of passage H. Member 45 when holding a washer is stopped from rotating beyond the desired limit by stop 49 on the member 44 being engaged by a projection 59 on the member 95, so that in the position of Fig. 7 a washer held upon prong M will be discharged from the washer balance outside of plate 4 and will fall downwardly against the curved surface 5| (Fig. 1) formed in plate 4 and thus be directed through opening 52 (Fig. 5) in plate I, passing into a rejection chute (not shown) at the other side of plate I. Coins other than washers will engage the toe 46 in their course down passage M and will rotate the washer balance 44 to a point where toe G6 is in line with the wall of passage M being there discharged and falling upon an anvil 53. Lead coins or other coins of insuflicient elasticity will roll ofi anvil 53 or bounce slightly off this anvil falling to the left of separating point 54 and being discharged through opening 52 previously referred to. Coins of somewhat greater but insuificient elasticity or coins of insufiicient weight will strike a deflector 55 pivoted to plate I at 56 and swingable between pins 5'! and 58, and will be turned back by deflector 55, passing also to the left (Fig. 5) of separating point 59 and being rejected through opening 52. A coin of sumcient elasticity and weight will swing the deflector 55 about its pivot and thus pass to the right of separating point 55 into passage 59- for further testing. As shown in Fig. 5, where it is not desired in a particular locality or under special circumstances to use the bounce test provided by anvil 53, a curved guide 53 may be inserted above the anvil to direct coins to deflector 55, as described.

The upper part of passage 59 is formed by separating point 54 on the one side and a member 60 on the other, provided with a jog 6!. The lower part of passage 59 is formed by a member 62 pivoted to plate I at 63 and having an oversized aperture 64 surrounding a pin 65 attached to plate I and being in consequence free to vibrate or oscillate slightly upon being struck by a coin. The jog BI and member 62 accordingly serve to slow down the coin going through passage 59 and to dampen oscillation of this coin. Jog GI and member 92 define a reverse bend in the passage 59 communicating with a passage 66 formed by the lower portion of guide 59 and a second guide 61. The walls of passage 66 are formed by plate I and the face of magnet 68 (Fig. 1) the position of whose pole pieces is indicated in phantom (Fig. 5) by the numerals 69, it being understood that the corresponding magnet (not shown) for the other side of plate I may advantageously be positioned directly opposite so as to increase the strength of the magnetic field through which passage 65 the coins are directed.

In accordance with well understood principles, a coin in its course through passage 66 will have eddy currents set up in it varying in as are not sufiiciently impeded by the magnetic field will pass therefrom with a relatively high trajectory going to the right of separating point 19, described below, and passing into chute II for rejection. Also, coin which are slowed too much in passing through the magnetic field will strike separating point 12 and bounce over point Ill, thus passing into passage II for, rejection.

All coins of approximately proper conductivity and weight will pass from the magnetic field in a trajectory directed approximately toward the separating point I9, which is attached to plate 5 through a member I3 adjustably mounted on plate 5 by means of a screw I3 (Fig. 1). Separating point I comprises a coin engaging portion disposed at right angles to plate and an attaching portion lying along member I3, being pivotally carried thereon by pivot I4 and maintained in the position of Fig.1 by a pin upon member 13 passing through a loosely fitting aperture in the attaching portion of separating point 18. An unusually fine and reliable selection is provided by this loose mounting of point I9 previously referred to. By reason of the loose mounting any tendency of a coin to rebound elastically from the separating point 19 is eliminated and the selection between coins in slightly difierent trajectories is not controlled by their direction of rebound but simply by whether they strike the separating point ID with their centers of gravity to one side or the other. Thus improper coins will strike the separating point I0 with their centers of gravity to the right of this point (Fig. 1) and proper coins will strike the point with their centers of gravity to the left. As will be readily appreciated, the direction of rebound of a coin from any surface and more particularly from an edge such as a separating point depends not only upon its trajectory but also upon the shape of that portion of its circumference which hits the surface. Thus a coin in a given trajectory may rebound to the right or the left of a rigidly mounted separating point 7."

in accordance with the presence or absence of milling, nicks or other irregularities on its circumference at the point Where it hits the separating point. accidental and undesirable feature is substantially eliminated as the coin will fall to the left or right of a loosely mounted separating point substantially without regard to the condition of its circumference at the point of contact.

Such coins as fall to the left of point Ill are received in a passage 18, which is supported by an inclined angle I1 formed on plate 5 and a portion of plate I, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

Coins passing the previously-mentioned test and hence entering passage I6, roll down this passage into a balance 89 pivoted upon plate I at BI and counter-balanced by adjustable weights 82 to the position of Fig. 5, being stopped in this position by its lower surface abutting against the boss 83. The balance comprises a coin receiv- In the present construction this ing portion 84 and a coin stopping portion 85. A coin of sufiicient weight upon entering the balance will rest upon the coin holding portion 84 overbalancing the counter-balance 82 and rotating the balance downwardly, being discharged thereby into passage 85. A coin of insufficient weight will fail to overbalance counter-weight 82 and will remain in the machine. In such position, however, the stopping portion 85 of balance will stop passage 16 so that a coin therein rests upon angle 11 of plate 5 previously referred to. Coins of sufficient weight to tilt balance 89 and be discharged therefrom fall intopassage 86 striking the lower point 81 of a member 88 pivoted to plate I at 89 and rotating this member so as to pass between it and boss 98 defining the lower part of passage 86. In case a machine to which the coin selector of the invention may be applied already has sufficient coins in its coin control mechanism so that a coin in the lower portion of passage 86 cannot proceed further, such coin will hold the member 88 in this rotated position bringing the upper point 9| of member 88 into position to block passage 86 and directing any coins entering this passage over the boss 90 and thus into passage II for rejection and return.

As will be recalled, certain coins may be retained by balance 89 or by plate 5 and means is provided for stripping such coins from the machine. As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, link 29 carries a ork 92 and this fork accommodates the end 93 of a bell crank 94 pivoted to plate I at 95, the other end 96 of which enters a slot 91 in the balance 88. Slot 9'! comprises a circular are of suflicient length to accommodate the end 98 of the, bell crank during the required movements of balance 80 and continues with a straight portion to accommodate this part during stripping. Downward movement of link 29 through the parts described will rotate bell crank 94, straightening balance 89 into the required position through slot 91 and ejecting any coin which may be therein. Due to the construction of the actuating mechanism for link 29, previously described, this motion will be sudden and of sufiicient force to propel such a coin into passage II for rejection and return. Plate 5 is journaled on a shaft 98 (Fig. 1) mounted in projections from plate I at 99 and is biased toward plate I by a spring I09 mounted on shaft 98. A portion IDI of hell crank 94 is positioned under an outwardly fiared end I92 of plate 5 and stripping motion of this bell crank thus cams or wedges plate 5 outwardly, freeing any coins which may be within it and also opening up an entirely clear passage for coins from the bal-' ance 89 into passage II. Both passage 86 and associated structure as well as passage II, pre viously referred to, are covered by the stationary plate 6, the upper part of which is flared outwardly as at I03 to catch coins directed into the latter passage.

The stripping mechanism provided is of great certainty, leverage and positiveness in action and may readily be used for both sides of the coin selector either by attaching forks similar to the fork 92 to the link 29 upon the other side of the machine, or by providing other forms of connection. Such connections may take the form of a link such as the link I94 (Fig. 1) connected to an arm of bell crank 22 as at I and formed with a rack I66 cooperating with a' gear I91 (Figs. 1 and 5) mounted upon a shaft I08 and extending through plate I for operating similar stripping mechanism on the other side of the machine.

To prevent either failure to pass good coins or fraudulent operation through tipping of the machine, a very simple and efiective device is provided, comprising a member its pivotally mounted on plate I at H9 (Fig. just below the scavenger and formed with a pair oi arms I l I having inwardly facing sockets U2. The stop 55 previously referred to may be formed with a T-shaped head H3. Tilting of the machine will then cause the member I29 to swing about its pivot H9 bringing one of the sockets H2 into a position where it surrounds one end of the T- shaped head of stop 55 from swinging and directing all coins which pass the scavenger into rejection chute 52. In machines not apt to be tilted or where a machine must be used in locations where leveling is impracticable, the member I09 may be rendered inoperative simply by inserting a screw l H! through plate 4 (dotted lines, Fig. 5).

What is claimed is:

1. In a coin selector, and in combination, means for directing good coins to a predetermined 10cation and means for preventing passage of bad coins to said location including means for stopping bad coins and holding them in said coin selector, means for moving said stopping and holding means to strip bad coins from said selector, said moving means comprising an actuating member movable in a predetermined direction to effect such motion, a stop for preventing movement of said member in said direction, elastic means for pressing said member against said stop and moving said member to eiTect the stripping movement of said stopping and holding means when said movement is not prevented by said stop, and means for disengaging said member from said stop.

2. In a coin selector, and in combination, means for directing good coins to a predetermined location and means for preventing passage of bad coins to said location including means for stopping bad coins and holding them in said coin selector, means for moving said stopping and holding means to strip bad coins from said selector, said moving means comprising an actuating member movable in a predetermined direction to effect such motion, a stop for preventing movement of said member in said direction, elastic means for pressing said member against said stop and for moving said member to efieot the stripping movement of said stopping and holding means when said movement is not prevented by said stop, and means for deflecting said member laterally to clear said stop.

3. In a coin selector, and in combination, means for directing good coins to a predetermined location and means for preventing passage of bad coins to said location including means for stopping bad coins and holding them in said coin selector, means for moving said stopping and holding means to strip bad coins from said selector, said moving means comprising an operating lever, a spring connection between said lever and said member for pressing said member against said stop upon movement of said lever and for moving said member to effect the stripping movement of said stopping and holding means when not prevented by said stop, and a cooperating bevel and cam upon said member and lever positioned for deflecting said member laterally to clear said stop upon further movement of said lever.

4. In a coin selector, and in combination, means for directing good coins to a, predetermined location and means for preventing passage of bad coins to said location including means for stopping bad coins and holding them in said coin selector, means for moving said stopping and holding means to strip bad coins for said selector, said moving means comprising an actuating member movable in a predetermined direction to effect such motion, a stop for preventing movement of said member in said direction, elastic means for pressing said member against said stop and for moving said member to effect the stripping movement of said stopping and holding means when said movement is not prevented by said stop, means for deflecting said member laterally to clearsaid step, and means for returningsaid member to a position engaging said stop.

CHRISTIAN GABRIELSEN. 

